Card or sheet holding attachment for type-writing machines.



no. 700,138. v K Patented may |3, |902.A 4 n. .1. msnen & H. F. EcKEnT. A

' GARD 0R SHEET HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.y

y (Application mea mr. 21, 1900.)

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Patented May I3,1lel902.A .3. J.' FISHER & H. F. ECKERT.' CARD'DR SHEET HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(Application led Mar. 21, 1900.)

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. Pauanced May I3, 1902.. R. J. FISHER & H. F. ECKERT.

HoLmNG ATTACHMENT 'Eos TYPE wmTmG MACHINES.

` (Appnpntion med marin, 1900.) (No Model.)

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UNITED" STATES (PATENT i OFFICE ROBERT J. FISHER, oFATH'EN's,TENNESSEE,'AND-HERMAN FRANKECKERT,

OF OLEVELANDQOHIO, ASSIGNORS TO vPANY, OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE.-

THE FISHER TYPEWRITER COM- .CARD'OR sHEErHoLoiNG `ATlfAcHivn-:inFos TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.y y' .i

SPClFICATlON forming part f Letters Patent No. 700,138, elated May 13, 1902-. Application filed March 21,1900. Serial No. 9,592. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may con/cern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT J. FlSHER, residing at Athens, in the county of McMnn and State of Tennessee, and HERMAN FRANK y ECKERT, re'siding at Cleveland, in the county'l card or sheet holder disclosed in the applica-A tion of Hiram J. Halle, filed October 7, 1899,'`

Serial No. 732,921.

The card or sheet holder to which the preszo Acnt invention appertains in its preferred form essentially involves the employment of suitable holding-guides arranged in one or more pairs in proper relation to the'machine and its platen and having means for engaging the edges of the card or sheet to guide the same to the proper position for being printed upon, and in'theuse of these guides, whatever the form thereof may be, it is necessary to make provision for suitable adjustment, whereby 3o the distance or space between the guides may be varied to suit the particular sized card or sheet. In the application referred'to the securing or. fastening devices forA the holdingguides are grdinarily so arranged as to permit ofthelateraladjustmentofoneorbothguides;

but toejfect such adjustment it is necessary to move the traveling type-carriage or machine back-upon the platen and out of the way ofthe securingmeans or fastenings for the holding- 'i 4o guides, whereby the said means may be manipulated to elfect the desired adjustment. This operation is necessarily slow.

The card or sheet holding attachment is largely intended to facilitate printing any desired data upon index-cards such as are used in the well-known card system 0f indexing,

and it is well known that these index-cards vary in size, shape, thickness, and ruling, according to the'purpose for which they are 5o adapted, so it is therefore very desirable that lineans should be provided for the rapid yand accurate adjustment or shifting of the holding-guides upon the platen to adapt the same Vto cards of different sizes` without the necessity of moving the type-carriage or machine back upon the platen and handling the guides themselves. It is for the purpose of accomlplishing this result that the present invention has been designed; and the same primarily contemplates associating with one `or 6o both ofl the holding-guides suitable adjusting or shifting mechanism for mechanically shift- 'ing the guides to variable positionswith relation to each other, whereby card's'or sheets of varying sizes may be; alternately written upon without consuming too much time, as well as to permit of thefrapid adjustment or shifting of the guides for changing from one sized card to another when a considerable number of one size are to be written upon con- 7o secutively.

Another objectof the invention is to provide adjusting or shifting mechanism for the guides having a single operating handle, le-

ver', crank, or equivalent device controlled 75 i by hand and exposed at the front of the platen 'or in some other convenient' location where 'it may be'readily reached by the operator.

' With these and manyother objects in View,

which will readily appear f'ltofthose skilled in 8o the art, the invention consists in the novel combination and relation of elements hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed. v

The fundamental features of theinvention are necessarily susceptible to a wide range of modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and various forms of mechanical contrivances may be utilized in connection with one or both of the 9o guides to eect the necessaryadj ustment of the distance between the same; but for illustrative purposes severalpreferred expedients for carrying the invention A into effect are shown in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a type-writingmachine platen equipped with aN card or sheet holder, showing each of the holdingguides equipped with a separate adjusting or shifting mechanism, whereby one or both of roo VV le said guides may be adjusted or shifted at the option of the operator. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front edge View of the platen, showing only one of the holdingguides of the attachment associated with an adjusting or shifting mechanism, the other of said guides remaining in a fixed position-upon the platen. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. Gis aside edge view of a portion of the platen, showing a simplified form of adjusting o1' shifting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a bottom plan view of the platen, showing a modified form of adjusting or shifting mechanism, making provision for the synchronous or simultaneous adjustment of bothholding-guides. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9'9 of Fig. 8.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention any form of holding-guides may be employed; but for illustrative purposes the same type of guides are shown in the drawings as disclosed in the aforesaid application of Hiram J. Halle, Serial No. 732,921, said guides being designated by the numeral l and shown arranged over the upper side of the tlat platen 2, which platen subserves its usual function in connection with the type-carriage or machine 2, arranged to travel thereover and coperating with the usual main track-rails 3, which are supported upon the platen. The said platen 2 and the track-rails 3 thereon, as well as the traveling type-carriage adapted to workover the platen, constitute no part of the present invention, but subserve the same function as the corresponding parts utilized in the Fisher type-writing machine-a type `of which machine is disclosed in the patent to Robert J. Fisher, No. 573,868.

While the particular form of the holdingguides 1 is not important to the carrying out of the invention, still the same relative arrangement of these guides is preserved, as shown in the aforesaid application of Hiram J. Halle, said guides being arranged in one or more pairs in proper relation to the traveling type-carriage and its platen, besides being provided with suitable means for engaging the edges of the card or sheet to guide the same to the proper position for being printed upon, as well as to guide the printed card or sheet beyond the printing area of the platen. It is also unimportant to the successful carrying out of the present invention whether the holding-guides 1 are arranged directly onthe platen or upon the bottom of the machine-frame, as explained in the aforesaid application Serial No. 732,921; but in the simpler forms of the card or-sheet holding attachment only a pair of the holding-guides 1 is employed, which are arranged upon the top surface of the platen, so for illustrative ing-guides 1 iri order to adapt the printingspace between said guides for cards or sheets of varying sizes, and the present invention contemplates associating with one or both of the guides suitableadjustingorshifting mechanism for mechanically moving one or both oi the guides to variable positions; but it is obvious that this result may be accomplished in several ways. First, by providing a separate adjusting or shifting mechanism for each guide, whereby one or both guides may be mechanically adjusted at the option of the operator, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings; second, by having an adjusting or shifting mechanism associated with only one of the guides with the other guide fixed, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7 of the drawings, and, third, by having an adjusting or shifting mechanism common to both guides, whereby said guides may be adjusted or shifted in synchronism. Various mechanical constructions or expedients may be resorted to for carrying into effect either of these three ways of securing the same result; but the preferred forms of construction are shown in the drawings, and particular reference will now be made thereto.

One form of adjusting or shifting mechanism is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and this adjusting or shifting mechanism can be associated with each of the holding-guides, as shown in Fig. 1, or only with one of said guides, as shown in Fig. 4; but in .each case the said mechanism is the same and is manipulated in the same manner. It will therefore suffice to describe the specific construction ot the said adjusting or shifting device as associated with one of the holding-guides. To provide for the convenient operative connection of the said adjusting or shifting mechanism with a guide, the said guide is preferably formed at one side with an attachingange 4, arranged fiat upon the upper side of the platen and provided therein with openings 5, receiving the upperends of slide-blocks G, slidably working in guide-slots 7, formed transversely inthe flat platen 2 and provided below the plane of the said slots with retainingshoulders 8, engaging against the under side of the platen at the side edges of the slots 7 and serving to retain the blocks in the proper working position within the slots. The transversely-disposed slots are spaced a distance apart to permit of the employment of a pair of the slide-blocks 6, located, respectively, at or near the opposite ends of the holding-guide with which they are associated. To provide for the even and uniform shifting of this guide, the upper ends of the slide-blocks 6, which extend into the openings 5 in the attaching-flange 4 of the holding-guide, have formed therein threaded sockets 9 to receive IOO IIO

fastening-screws 10, the heads of which impinge upon the upper side of the attachingflange 4 to provide a rigid but detachable connection between the holding-guide and the slide-blocks associated therewith.

In the form of invention being described the shouldered slide-blocks 6 are provided at their lower ends with depending lugs 9, to which arepivotally connected, as at 10, one end of the adjusting-links 11, the other ends of which links are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the swinging shaft-arms 12,

held fast at their lower ends upon the rockshaft 13, journaled in suitable bearings 14, which may be conveniently supported beneath the platen in any desired manner. The said rock-shaft 13 is disposed beneath and longitudinally of the platen and is preferably actuated in one direction by an adjustingspring 15, coiled thereon, and having one end connected directly with the said shaft and its other end connected With a fixed point of attachment, whereby the tension of the said spring will be exerted directly upon the shaft. The said rock-shaft 13, which is actuated in one direction by the spring 15, has iitted fast upon one end thereof an adjusting-head 16, which is preferablyin the form of asegmental plate provided with an offstanding operatinghandle 17 and an arcuate or segmental slot 18, which receives a lock-screw 19, the threaded shankv of which screw is adapted to engage in a threaded bracket 20, which may be conveniently secured to the under side of the platen at the front edge thereof, said screw 19 when tightened having the shoulder 21 thereof binding against'the front side of the adjustinghead 16 to lock the shaft 13 against movement, and consequently serving to lock or secure the holding-guide rigid in its adjusted position.

In addition to receiving the lock-screw the segmental or arcuate slot 18 of the adjustinghead 16 receives therein the adjustable stopbuttons 22.' The stop-buttons 22 are respectively arranged at opposite sides of the lockscrew 19, and each consists of a slide-block 23, Working in the slot 18, and a thumb-screw 24, whose threaded shank is adapted to engage in a threaded socket 25, formed in the said block 23, the shoulders of the thumbscrew 24 being adapted to impinge the outer side of the adjusting-head 16 to provide for holding the-slide-block 23, with which it is associated, in the adjusted position. By positioning the adjustable stop-buttons 22 at different positions within the slot 18 the adjustment of the holding-guide may be limited in either direction, as the particular nature of the work may require.

Of course it will be understood that the tension of the spring 15 may be normally exerted in either direction, so that said spring may be relied upon to normally adjust the guides in a direction away from each other, or vice versa, said spring coming into play when the lock-screw 19 is loosened. The operation involved is simply to loosen the screw 19 and platen, and when this guide has been ad justedv to the precise position desired the `screw 19 is tightened, so as to firmly lock all the parts of the mechanism, as Well yas lthe holding-guide, against further movement;

As already explained, the form of adjusting or shifting mechanism described is shown in Fig. 1 as associated with each of the holdingguides, while in Fig. 4t it is shown combined with only'one of the guides; but it is obvious that the manner of adjusting or varying the distance between the guides is the same in both cases, and it will be further understood at this point that any suitable means may be employed for rocking the shaft 13 in a'direction contrary to the direction in which it is moved under the influence of the spring 15,

or other modifications of this specific structure may be resorted to without affectingk the invention.

Another form of adjusting or shifting mechanism that might be utilized to carry out the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. This mechanism simply consists of an adjusting-shaft 26, journaled in suitable bearings 27 beneath the platen and having mounted thereon pinions 28, projecting vthrough slots 29 in the platen and meshing with reciprocatory or sliding rack-bars 30, working through suitable guides 31 upon the upper side of the platen and suitably connected with a holding-guide 1. In the modification referred to the adjusting-shaft 26 is disposed longitudinally of 'the platen and is provided at its front end With an operating handle or crank32, Which may be conveniently exposed at the front end of the platen, and to provide for locking the mechanism against movement, as wellas locking theholding-guide in its adjusted position, there may be employed a locking-screw 33,' mounted in one of the guides 31 and impinging upon the rack-bar 30, working therethrough. Thisy mechanism would also be susceptible to modiication, and another form of adjusting or shifting mechanism for carrying out the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, said mechanism being common to both ofthe holding-guides. Referring particularly to said Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the mechanism shown therein includes a pair of adj usting-shafts 34, arranged in parallel relation beneath the platen and disposed transversely thereof. The said'transversely-disposed parallel adjusting-shafts 34 are journaled in suitable bearings 35,'itted to the underside of the platen and are provided with oppositely-arranged separate rightand left hand threaded portions 36 and 37, the righthand threaded portions 36 of the said shafts 34 working in threaded nuts 38, carriedy by IOO IIO

one of the holdin g-guides, while the left-hand f threaded portions 37 of the said adjustingshafts work in similar nuts 38, carried by the other holding-guide, thus providing means for the synchronous adjustment or shifting of both holding-guides. A practical way of connecting the nuts 38 with the holding-guides is to form these nuts in connection with shifting blocks 6 similar to those shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings.

The screw adjusting-shafts 3i are provided atone end with worm-pinions 39,meshing with worms 40 on an operating-shaft 4l,supported longitudinally beneath the platen at right angles to the shafts 3i and provided at its front end with an operating crank or handle 42. It will be observed that by reason of the wormgcar connection with the shafts 34 the said gearing will constitute a lock for holding the guides l fixed in any adjusted position.

Other forms of adjusting or shifting mechanism will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and modifications of the mechanisms disclosed may be resorted to without affecting the invention, so it will therefore be understood that various changes in the form, proportion,and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, and the traveling printing mechanism, of work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the writing-surface of the platen, and mechanism comprising means located below the writing-surface of the platen for bodily shifting a work-holding member to provide for the lateral adjustment of said members.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the iiat platen, and the traveling printing mechanism, of work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the writing-surface of the platen, and mechanism comprising means for bodily shifting and simultaneously adjusting a work-holding member.

3,. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the at platen, and the traveling printing lnechanism, of work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the Writing-surface of the platen, and mechanism comprising means located below the writing-surface of the platen for shifting and locking a workholding member.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, and the traveling printing mechanism, of work-holding members having guiding and holding means for work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the writing-surface of the platen, and mechanism comprising means for shifting, and simultaneously adjusting, said laterallymovable members, said means being located below the writing-surface of the platen.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the fiat platen, and the traveling printing mechanism, of shiftable work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the writing-surface of the platen, and mechanism comprising means for shifting, adjusting and locking said members, said means being located below the writing-surface of the platen.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, and the printingy mechanism, of a work-holding member having guiding and holding means for the work, and interposed in a plane between the printing mechanism and the writing-surface of the platen, and adjusting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having an operative connection with the work-holding member to shift bodily the same laterally, and means for turning the rock-shaft in either direction.

8. In a type-writingmachine, the combination with the flat platen, and the printing mechanism of a laterally-movable work-holding member having guiding and holding means for the work, and adjusting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having an operative connection with the work-holding member for shifting the same, operating means for turning the rock-shaft in either direction, and locking means for holding the shaft and the member associated therewith against movement.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, and the printing mechanism, of relatively movable work-holding members having guiding and holding means for the work, and adjusting mechanism including an actuating-spring which tends to normally vary the distance between the workholding members in one direction, and means for adjusting the distance between said members in a direction contrary to the action of the spring.

lO. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, and the printing mechanism, of a movable work-holding member having guiding and holding means for the work, and adjusting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having operative connection IIC a plane between the printing mechanism and the Writing-surface of the platen, said Workholding member having slide-blocks Working in the slots of the platen, and adjusting mechanism comprising a rock-shaft having operative connections With said slide-blocks, and means for turning said rock-shaft in either direction.

12. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a movable work-holding guide, of a rock-shaft carrying swinging arms having link connections'with the guide to provide for shifting the same laterally, an actuating-Spring for turning the rock-shaft in one direction, an adj listing-head fitted to the rock-shaft and having an operating-handle, a locking device associated with the adjusting-head, and adjustable stops tted to the adj usting-head, respectively at opposite sides of the locking device.

13. In a type-Writing machine, the combination With the movable Work-holding guide, of a rock-shaft carrying swinging arms having link connections with the guide to provide for shifting the samelaterally, an actuating-spring for turning the rock-shaft in l one direction, an adjusting-head fitted to the rock-shaft and having a segmental or arcuate slot, and a single operating-handle, a lockscreW Working through the slot in said head and engaging a xed point of support, and adjustable stop-buttons slidably mounted in the slotted adjusting-head, respectively at opposite sides of the said lock-screw.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afxed our signatures in the presence of witnesses.

i ROBERT J. FISHER.

HERMAN FRANK ECKERT.

Witnesses for Fisher:

J. D. WILLIAMS, J. L. EMERSON.

Witnesses for Eckert:

H. J. HALLE, HAL. BELL. 

